by Tom Rinkes

Created on: April 30, 2008

Are we on the road to Armageddon? Answer: We're not even close to the on-ramp. I say this because of three dates in particular. Jesus gave the end-times scenario to Mark in year 32 or 33 A.D. John gave his Revelation in between year 85 and 90 A.D. It's 2008 A.D. and it hasn't happened yet. Did you ever wonder why? I know I have, since 1966.

In the summer of that year I traveled, with our church group, to Columbus, Ohio to hear Rev. Billy Graham. I was 14 then and his sermon was on the end times, the Antichrist and the impending doom for all mankind. I'd never heard anyone preach the gospel with more fervor or conviction, and he scared me to death. I saw no hope for my future because it was all going to end tomorrow anyway-why bother? At the first Ecumenical Council there was a long and heated debate as to whether the Book of Revelation would even be included in the official Canon. Now, I can see why.

I must admit, our world is headed for a classic battle between the forces of Good and the forces of Evil-it's inevitable. But the question as to when has baffled biblical scholars and laymen alike for centuries. I am a student of history, especially all things Biblical and Christian. I've noticed that, for some reason known only to God, Lucifer can't rule our world by himself. If he could he'd walk into the United Nations Security Council and declare himself the Supreme Ruler tomorrow. He has to do this through a man, a mortal.

Many men throughout history have been candidates for the last Antichrist, from Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Hitler up to and including Saddam Hussein. All these men have ruled their people in a manner exactly opposite of the way Jesus would. I've heard and read that this is called the "Spirit of Antichrist," and I have to agree. All have had aspirations to rule the known world and have been put down, and put down hard, by God-fearing freedom-loving people along with barbarians who didn't even know they were during God's will.

But there will come a day when there won't be enough of these people left, and the evil ones will triumph. Then, and only then, can the Last Antichrist do his bidding and his rule will make Hitler look like a choirboy. God will have to send His Son back, not because He wants to but because He has to, to stop the carnage and save the elect. Jesus didn't instruct us to be peacemakers for nothing. If diplomacy fails and war must be waged against these demagogues to stop their madness, then isn't this an extension of peace making? There will never be a just and lasting peace until Christ returns, but we are commanded by Him to try as diligently as we can to bring this about, until the day we are outnumbered. As long as we do, the Apocalypse can't happen.

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